Junior World Championships set off in Prague
On Sunday, 10th June 2007, the Junior World Championships started in Prague. There is a large field in the entries – among the women 33 countries are represented by 110 competitors. The male field is composed by 196 athletes are coming from 52 nations. Three of these data mark new participation records. In the women, the highest number of countries in attendance so far was 32, and the top turnout consisted of 104.
In the men`s competition also the number of nations is a new record, because the highest until now was 46.
Six defenders of Junior world champion titles will be taking part. In the women: Genny Pagliaro, ITA, (48kg) winner of the snatch last year; as well as +75kg Karsiaryna Shkuratava, BLR, who collected all three gold medals in 2006.
Among the men Sergey Petrosyan, RUS in 62kg already boasts a champion title in clean and jerk; 77kg Albanian Erkand Qerimaj is also expected to lift, who made a surprise win last year in 69kg; Andrei Aramnau, BLR holds the title in snatch; finally in 105kg Russian Igor Merkushov, who is the owner of all the three titles from last year.
